Door handle equipped with an automatic retractable flap

ABSTRACT

A door handle for the side door, rear door or trunk of a motor vehicle, the door handle being fitted with a flap ( 1 ) that retracts automatically when the handle is used. The flap is fitted with a sensor ( 5 ) that detects the presence of a handle opposite the flap. When the flap is not in use, it is closed in such a way as to be flush with the external surface ( 2 ) of the door and it is held in position by a spring recall system. A computer-controlled actuation device is designed to retract the flap at the appropriate moment in order to provide access to the door opening control ( 8 ). The flap systems can be connected to an electric or mechanical opening control.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an external door handle of a motorvehicle. The style of modern cars has become a prominent factor ofappeal and market success, this invention discloses a vehicle externalhandle which is at the same time very practical and very convenient andalso enables to achieve new possibilities for the vehicle style,especially the lateral style.

PRIOR ART

Patent EP0198766, issued in 1986, is known, and discloses a vehicleexternal handle. The goal of this invention is to conceal any recess inthe area of the handle. The target is to have the appearance of anoverall flush surface in this area.

The drawback of this invention is twofold:

-   -   the angular range to activate the handle is greater than 90        degrees, which results in poor ergonomics,    -   the area of handling is most of the time dirty because this        area, as the whole external body, is directly exposed to rain        and various projections.

One knows patent DE3700135, published in 1988, which discloses a vehicleexternal handle. When the vehicle is at standstill or at a very lowspeed, the external handles are protruding; above a given vehicle speed,the handles retract to give an overall flat external surface in the areaof the handle.

The drawback of this invention is that, when the vehicle is atstandstill, the style and the appearance of the handle area is poor.

One knows patent DE19847212, published in 2000, which unveils a vehicleexternal handle. In this invention, a movable flap is able to close theaccess to the handle. This movable flap closes as the vehicle moves orif the doors are locked. However, when the vehicle is at standstill andthe doors are not locked, the flap remains open, which is poor.Moreover, the system arrangement is downwards oriented, consequently itis prone to get dirty in connection with water drip.

One also knows the Alfa Romeo 156 vehicle, recently launched on themarket. On this vehicle, the rear external handle is hidden in the darkarea above the door outer skin above the outside sheet plate of thedoor. This enables to have a very pure lateral style, but the ergonomicsof this kind of handle is rather poor, especially for children or smallpersons.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed hereafter solves the drawbacks of the prior artinventions and unveils a vehicle external handle with a particularlygood looking style and which is very easy to use.

The purpose of the invention is to present an external door handle for amotor vehicle, for lateral door or trunk lid or tailgate, said doorhandle is fitted with a movable flap that retracts automatically whenthe handle is operated. This flap is fitted with a sensor that detectsthe presence of the hand in front of the handle.

When the flap is at rest, it is closed. The flap is kept in thisposition by a return spring arrangement. The system that retracts theflap can be, as a non limitative example, a system with a smallelectrical motor, a pulley and a flexible cable which winds up aroundthe pulley. The other end of the cable is fastened to the flap bracket.Another implementation used for the retraction movement will bedescribed further in another preferred embodiment of the invention.

This flap system can be combined with either an electrical-type latchcontrol or with a mechanical-type latch control. In the case of anelectrical-type door latch control, the fingers of the user operate onan electrical switch, and the electronic control unit then controls anelectrical type latch of known type. In the case of an mechanical-typedoor latch control, the fingers operate on a mechanical lever whichinteracts with a mechanical cable, said cable interacts with a knownmechanical latch.

In the normal cases of use, the hand of the user does not touch theflap, but only touches the opening control, which is not affected bydirt, according to its position, even in the case of adverse weatherconditions.

Functional Principle

When the hand of the user gets close to the flap, the sensor detects thepresence of this hand and sends this information to the electroniccontrol unit. According to current conditions, several processes canoccur: the doors are already unlocked (case A/), the doors are lockedand there is no authorization to unlock (case B/) or the doors arelocked and the authorization to unlock is granted (case C/).

The authorization to unlock is given by an electronic identifier carriedby the user.

A/ Doors Unlocked

If the doors are unlocked, as soon as the sensor detects the presence ofa hand, then the control unit triggers the folding of the flap byactivating the electric motor geared to the pulley, a soft cable windingaround said pulley. The traction on this cable pulls the flap towardsthe inner side of the handle area. This gives free access to the fingersof the user in order to operate the opening control itself.

When the sensor does not detect any hand anymore and if the openingcontrol is not actuated anymore, then the control unit controls thefolding motor in the opposite direction and the flap unfolds back.

B/ Doors Locked (and Unlocking Authorization Not Present)

If, when the hand is detected, the vehicle is locked, then the detectiontriggers an attempt to authenticate the identifier carried by the user.

If, after the sensor has detected a hand, no identifier is recognized,then the control unit does nothing and, in particular, does not controlthe folding of the flap. The hand can push the flap, because the linkagebetween the flap and the motor is supple and allows a manual actuation.As soon as the hand goes back, the flap goes back to the rest position(closed). Even if the fingers activate the opening control, the controlunit does not activate the unlatching and the latch remains locked.

C/ Doors Locked and Unlocking Authorization Present (Hand FreeUnlocking)

If, after a hand detection, an identifier and the exchange of codes issatisfactory, then the control unit activates the folding of the flap.In the case of the mechanical-type latch, the control unit activates aswell the unlocking of the latch to authorize the opening of the door.When the fingers operate the opening control, the door is unlocked andthe door opens. When the sensor of the flap does not detect any handanymore and the opening control is not actuated anymore, then thecontrol unit controls the folding motor in the opposite direction andthe flap unfolds back.

The functional logic will be detailed later.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows the invention in use.

FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the outside handle at rest.

FIGS. 3 to 5 show the general arrangement and the general functionalityof the invention.

FIG. 3 shows the stage when the hand is detected in front of the flap.

FIG. 4 shows the actuation of the opening control, the flap beingfolded.

FIG. 5 shows the situation when the flap is manually actuated, withoutany folding control of the flap.

FIG. 6 shows the invention with a mechanical-type door latch.

FIGS. 7 to 9 show the principle of the invention in the form ofchronograms.

FIG. 7 shows the chronogram in the case the doors are already unlocked(case A/).

FIG. 8 shows the chronogram in the case the doors are locked and noidentifier is recognized (case B/).

FIG. 9 shows the chronogram in the case the doors are locked and anidentifier is recognized (case C/).

FIG. 10 shows the electrical circuit diagram of the handle and itsconnections.

FIGS. 11 to 17 show a preferred embodiment of the invention, with allthe mechanical details.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the system, in the rest position.

FIG. 12 shows a front view of the system, from the inner side of thedoor.

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the system, in the folded position.

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the system, in the case of a manual actionon the flap.

FIG. 15 shows a 3D view of the vehicle door outer skin, viewed from theinside of the door.

FIG. 16 shows a 3D view of the housing (4).

FIG. 17 shows a 3D view of the flap (1) together with its bracket (12).

DETAILLED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The functionalities and the characteristics of the invention will beexplained in the following description which will follow.

The main goal of the invention is to propose an automotive door handlesystem allowing a very good looking style, particularly for the lateralstyle. Actually, when the system is at rest, the door presents a uniformappearance and it shows no recess and no protrusion. The visible part ofthe handle is simply a flap 1 which is perfectly flush with the outerdoor skin 2. This is shown on drawing FIG. 2. The gap between the doorouter skin and the flap is reduced thanks to the mechanical adjustmentthat will be explained further.

This kind of flap already exists for fuel lid cap on most of recentvehicles.

According to the invention, the flap 1 is made of plastic material,which is painted with the same color as the door outer skin.

The shape of the flap preferably follows the shape of the door outerskin, in order to have homogenous and enhanced light play on the wholedoor outer surface.

The perfect flush effect of the flap relative to the door outer skin isfulfilled by the means of a fastening system and stops which will bedetailed later.

The flap automatically retracts (or “folds”) when a hand 3 or any otherobject gets closer to the flap and is detected by the sensor, at adistance comprised between 1 and 2 cm. This is shown on FIG. 1.

The flap rotates around an axis A1, said axis being coaxial with thelongitudinal axis of the vehicle. The axis is located is the bottom partof the flap. The folding of the flap consists in rotating the flaptowards the direction 21.

The unfolding of the flap to the rest position consists in rotating theflap in the direction 22.

The folding of the flap allows the fingers of the user to reach easilythe door opening control switch 8 which is located above the flap,behind the door outer skin.

The drawing FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the whole handlesystem, fitted with the automatic flap.

The flap 1 is shown in the rest position. Its surface is perfectly flushwith door outer skin surface 2. The whole system is supported by ahousing 4 which is waterproof in its upper part and open in its lowerpart 17. The housing 4 is fastened on the door outer skin 2. A presence(or “proximity”) sensor 5 is located behind the flap: the purpose ofthis sensor is to detect the presence of any object opposite of saidflap.

This sensor may be an optical or an ultrasonic sensor. In both cases, inorder to guarantee its effectiveness, the sensor must be locateddirectly at the surface of the flap, and is likely to be visible.

Thus, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the sensor is ofcapacitive type, which is well known: this enables to have a sensorwhich is entirely hidden behind the flap and a uniform visual aspect ofthe outside of the flap.

This sensor is located just behind the flap and its action range isdepicted by the area 52. The flap is painted according to the bodycolor. The paint of modern vehicles are commonly metallic paint. As themetallic paint is slightly conductive, the action range of the sensor isenlarged to all the surface of the flap 52. Actually the capacitancevariation occurs whenever an object gets closer to the flap, in any areaof the flap.

The flap 1 is fastened to the flap bracket 12. The flap bracket rotatesalong the axis A1, with respect to the housing 4. This bracket has ageneral L-shape. At one end 14 the traction cable 10 is fastened, saidcable being the means used for the folding motion. This cable 10 goesthrough a guidance arrangement 16 and winds up around the pulley 18.This pulley is coupled to a small electric motor 7 which can rotates inone direction or in the other according to the controls given by thecontrol unit 6.

On the end 14 of the flap bracket is also fastened the bottom part ofthe spring 11 a. The upper part of the spring 11 a is secured in a holemade on the part 13 which is integral with on the housing 4.

Above the flap, in the upper area of the housing 4, the door unlatchswitch 8 is located. In the electrical-type latch version, this unlatchswitch is a simple broad electrical switch that can be actuated by thefingers of the vehicle user, as shown in FIG. 3.

The hand 3 of the user is shown in the position when the sensor is boundto detect its presence, because the outer part of the finger 30 entersin the action range area of the sensor.

On the drawing FIG. 3 is also depicted a part of the electrical controlsystem. The control unit 6 includes the control means and all therelevant logic processing. The control unit 6 is connected to the sensorby the link 56. The control unit 6 is also connected to the door unlatchswitch 8 through the link 86. The control unit 6 controls the foldingmotor 7 via the link 76 by the means of a well-known double relaycontrol circuit.

The control unit 6 is also connected via the link 60 to an antennasystem 61, said antenna system is used to communicate with the useridentifier 62.

Finally, the control unit 6 controls the door latch 9 e, which is stateof the art, via the link 96.

The drawing FIG. 4 shows the system when the flap is in the foldedposition. The flap 1 is held against the stop in the area 19 of the part13. The return spring 11 is elongated and applies a return force. Thecable 10 applies a traction force on the bracket 12, the motor and thepulley having winded up the loose part of the cable.

The inner part of the finger 31 of the user actuates the door unlatchswitch 8.

The drawing FIG. 5 shows a manual actuation on the flap, without anycontrolled folding. In this case, the cable extends and elongatesbeneath the guidance arrangement 16. Thank to this guidance arrangementthe cable cannot away from the pulley groove 18.

The drawing FIG. 6 shows the system with a mechanical-type door latchcontrol.

In this configuration, the size of the flap and the size of the upperarea of the main housing 4 are larger.

In this configuration, the fingers of the user do not actuate anymore aswitch, but a mechanical lever 40 that rotates along the axis A2. Thefingers apply a force on the area 43 of the lever 40.

At the other end of the lever 41, the control cable 46 of thestate-of-the-art mechanical latch 9 m is fastened. When the useractuates the lever, he pulls the lever towards the position 45. The doorlatch mechanical control cable 46 slides in a well-known protectionsheath 48. The elastic return force is performed by a spring locatedinto the door latch. This spring loaded return force drives back thelever 40 to the rest position 44 as soon as the user stops actuating thelever.

The functional principle of the flap is the same as in the electricaltype door latch version.

Detailled Functional Logic and Control Process

The drawing FIG. 7 shows the operational chronogram when the door handleis used if the vehicle doors are already unlocked (case A).

At the beginning, the system is at rest, the sensor output is not active(state 300). At the time T0, the hand getting closer to the flap, thesensor detects its presence and switches its output to the active state301. The control unit 6 receives this information via the link 56. Asthe doors of the vehicle have already been unlocked before, the controlunit immediately activates the folding of the flap at the time T1. Thecontrol output change from state 310 to state 311 and the motor 7rotates in the direction 181. Consequently, the position of the flapevolves from the position 320 to the position 321. The extreme positionin full stop is reached at the time T2. After a predefined control timeof TC1, at the time T3, the control unit stops the motor foldingactivation.

Then, the fingers of the user's hand enter the recess made free by thefolding of the flap, and then actuates the control switch 8 at the timeT4. The state of the switch changes from inactive 330 to active 331. Thecontrol unit 6 receives this information and actuates immediately themotor of the latch 9 e at the time T5. The door latch output changesfrom state 340 state 341. Just after, at the time T6, the door isunlatched from the door latch striker and the door is opened (changefrom state 350 to state 351). The control unit then stops the unlatchmotor control at the time T7.

Later, when the user stops activating the control switch 8 at the timeT8, the switch output changes from state 331 to state 330. Later on,when the user removes his hand from the handle, the output of the sensor5 change from state “active” 301 to state “inactive” 300, at the timeT9.

The control unit continuously monitors the information given by thesensor 5 and by the control switch 8: when they have been both at theinactive state from some hundreds of milliseconds, the control unitperforms the return cycle of the flap to the rest position (“unfolding”cycle). At the time T10, the folding motor output changes from state 360to state 361, and consequently, the motor 7 rotates in the direction182. The position of the flap evolves from state 321 to state 320. Theflap reaches the rest position at the time T11, after a time TC3 fromthe beginning of the control period. After a control period of TC2, thecontrol unit stops the motor return control, at the time T12. The periodTC2 is determined to be greater than time TC3 to ensure a completereturn on the stops of the rest position. But the period TC2 isdetermined not to exceed too much the time TC3 to avoid unnecessaryunwinding of the cable 10, which would enlarge the reaction time at thenext folding cycle.

The drawing FIG. 8 shows the operational chronogram when the door handleis used if the vehicle doors are locked and if there is no authorizationto unlock (case B/).

At the beginning, the sensor output is not active (state 300). At thetime T0, the hand getting closer to the flap, the sensor detects itspresence and switches its output to the active state 301. The controlunit receives this information via the link 56. The doors of the vehiclebeing locked, the control unit triggers an authentication of the useridentifier, this is done at time T16. As the authentication fails(identifier not present or wrong identifier), the control unit does notactivate the folding control and the motor drive output remains atinactive state 310.

Meanwhile, under the action of the hand of the user, the flap is pushedfrom the position 320 to the position 321, between time T21 and timeT22.

Afterwards, the fingers of the user enter the inner handle area and thenactivate the control switch 8 at the time T23. The switch output changesfrom state 330 to state 331. The control unit 6 receives thisinformation but does not actuate the unlatch motor 9 e, the outputremains at the inactive state 340.

The fingers stop to activate the control switch at the time T24.

At the time T25, the action of the fingers pushing the flap stops, andthe flap returns to the rest position 320.

Later the sensor does not detect anymore the fingers, at the time T26,the system has gone back to complete rest situation.

The drawing FIG. 9 shows the operational chronogram when the door handleis used if the vehicle doors are locked and if the authorization tounlock is valid (case C/).

At the beginning, the sensor output is not active (state 300). At thetime T0, the hand getting closer to the flap, the sensor detects itspresence and switches its output to the active state 301. The controlunit receives this information via the link 56. The doors of the vehiclebeing locked, the control unit triggers an authentication of the useridentifier, this process begins at time T16 and is completedsuccessfully at time T17. The identifier answer occurs between time T18and time T19. As the authentication result is satisfactory, the controlunit 6 has the authorization to control the folding of the flap. Thefolding activation begins at time T1, the motor drive output changingfrom state 310 to state 311 and the motor 7 rotates in the direction182. Consequently, the position of the flap evolves from the position320 to the position 321. The extreme position in full stop is reached atthe time T2. After a predefined control time of TC1, at the time T3, thecontrol unit stops the motor folding activation.

Then, the fingers of the user's hand enter the area made free by thefolding of the flap, and then actuates the control switch 8 at the timeT4. The state of the switch change from inactive 330 to active 331. Thecontrol unit 6 receives this information and actuates immediately themotor of the latch 9 e at the time T5. The door latch output changesfrom state 340 state 341. Just after, at the time T6, the door isunlatched from the door latch striker and the door is opened (changefrom state 350 to state 351). The control unit then stops the unlatchmotor control at the time T7.

The subsequent steps of the chronogram are strictly identical to thechronogram of FIG. 7 which has been detailed above.

The drawing FIG. 10 shows the electrical circuit diagram of theinvention. The control unit 6 contains all the circuitry necessary tointerface with the proximity sensor 5, the flap folding motor 7, thedoor latch motor which can be either of electrical type 9 e or ofmechanical type 9 m. The sensor is supplied via a transistor 53 whichswitches the current required by the sensor internal electronics 51. Insome special conditions, or after a certain time without any activity onthe vehicle, the control unit 6 stops the power supply of the sensor byswitching off the transistor 53. In this way, the sensor is not suppliedanymore, and does not consume any current from the battery of thevehicle, which is better, particularly in the case when the vehicle isnot used for a long period of time (for example more than one week). Inthis very particular case, the user will have to push himself the flapto gain access to the door control switch.

The sensor output signal goes through the wire 562 and is read as aninput 54 by the control unit 6.

The positive power supply is carried by the wire 561. The power supplywire 561 and the output signal wire 562 constitute the link 56 betweenthe control unit 6 and the sensor 5.

The motor 71 of the folding arrangement is controlled by the means oftwo relays according to a well-known electric circuit diagram. The relay65 controls the motor in the folding direction. When this relay isenergized, the wire 761 is set to positive supply voltage 12V and theother one 762 remains at ground potential. Thus, the motor is rotatingin the direction 182. The opposite relay 66 controls the motor in theunfolding direction, that-is-to-say in the direction of the restposition. When this relay is energized, the wire 762 is set to positivesupply voltage 12V while the other one 761 remains at ground potential.Thus, the motor is rotating in the direction 181.

The door latch may be of electrical type or of mechanical type. Theelectrical circuit diagrams differ slightly from one to another but theyare both depicted in drawing FIG. 10.

In the case of electrical type door latch (more and more popular fortrunks and tailgates), only the unlatch action is controlled by anelectrical driven action. The latch of the door is made by simplyclosing the door. Actually, the door locked status is achieved by notgranting authorization to unlatch.

The unlatch action is realized when the control unit energizes the relay68. The wire 963 is set to the positive voltage 12V in order to free thelatch from the latch striker.

In the case of widespread mechanical type door latch, the locking andunlocking processes are realized by an electrically controlled process,while the latch and unlatch processes are completely mechanicalprocesses.

A very common double relay electric circuit diagram is used.

The relay 67 drives the door latch motor in the locking direction. Whenthis relay is energized, the wire 961 is set to positive supply voltage12V and the other one 962 remains at ground potential. Thus the motorrotates in the locking direction. The opposite relay 68 drives the doorlatch motor in the unlocking direction. When this relay is energized,the wire 962 is set to positive supply voltage 12V while the other one961 remains at ground potential. Thus the motor rotates in the unlockingdirection.

According to another feature of the invention, the flapfolding/unfolding process is protected against overheat or overload thatcould be caused by too many actuations in a very short time. The controlunit 6 includes a software feature which inhibits the folding processfor a period of time if the system has been used just before too oftenin a short period of time.

Drawings FIG. 11 to FIG. 17 show a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and depict details of the mechanical arrangement.

FIG. 11 shows a side view of the complete system, while FIG. 12 showsthe corresponding front view, taken from the inner side. The flap 1 isat rest position (“closed”). The elastic return consists of a helicalspring 11 b which leans for one part on the housing 4 in the area 110and leans for the other part on the bracket 12 in the area 112. Thearticulation axis A1 goes through the center of the spring andcontributes to securing the spring 11 b in its position. The foldingarrangement is made of a commonly used actuator 150, which is linked tothe flap bracket 12 by the means of a connecting rod 152, thanks to thearticulation 154.

This kind of actuator is a well known component in the automotiveindustry, and is usually used to control the locking and unlocking ofthe door latches. The functionality of the actuator is very similar tothe functionality that has been described above for the cable and pulleygeneric implementation.

The actuator includes a small electric motor and a helical gear whichtransforms the rotating movement into a translation movement. Thisactuator is controlled in a binary mode: its normal positions are eithercompletely projected (FIG. 11) or completely retracted (FIG. 13).

The translating rod going out the actuator is protected againstenvironmental conditions by an extendible gusset joint 151.

On the drawings FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, the actuator is in the projectedposition, it does not exert any force on the flap bracket via thearticulation 14.

On the drawing FIG. 12, the electrical wiring is shown. The link 86 goesfrom the door control switch 8 to the control unit 6 via the main doorharness in the area 100. The link 56 goes from the sensor 5 also to thecontrol unit 6 via the main door harness in the area 100. The link 96goes from the actuator 150 to the control unit.

On the drawing FIG. 12, the mechanical interfaces between the flapbracket 12 and the door outer skin 2 are shown, in the upper areas 25and 26. The elastic return action of the spring secures that the flapbracket stops 25 and 26 are in full contact with the door metal sheet,which ensures a very good surface level match, enabling thus to have aperfect control of the lining up of the surfaces between flap and doorouter skin.

The drawing FIG. 13 shows the mechanical arrangement in the foldedactive position. The actuator is fully retracted and its action makesthe flap rotate along the A1 axis to the completely folded position, incontact with full stop in the area 19.

The drawing FIG. 14 shows the mechanical arrangement in the case of anexternal action pushing the flap, without any folding control. In thiscase, the hollow shape 153 which is located inside the connecting rod152 allows the flap to rotate without moving the position of theactuator.

The articulation 14 is moving inside the connecting rod 152, theconnecting rod rotates around the articulation 154, but the translationrod 151 does not move. Consequently, when the external action stops, theflap returns to the rest position thanks to the spring action, theconnecting rod goes back to its original rest position and the actuatoritself is not involved.

The drawing FIG. 15 shows a 3D view of the door outer skin, viewed fromthe door inside part. The elements 27, 28 and 29 are put in shapetogether with the stamping of the door outer skin, said elements beingshaped at right angle with respect to the door surface. These 3 elements27, 28 and 29 constitute the locating and fastening means of the handlehousing 4 inside the vehicle door panel. Each of them includes a holeintended to receive a fastening means.

The drawing FIG. 16 shows a 3D view of the handle housing 4 whichsupports the main components of the system.

The area 401 is designed to support the door opening control switch 8and its fastening. The area 402 interacts with the element 27 of thedoor outer skin and ensures the good locating of the housing withrespect to the door outer panel and the housing fastening. The hole 405is intended to receive the fastening means respective to the element 27.

The area 403 allows the upper part of the flap bracket 12 to interactdirectly with the door outer skin, in order to perform a perfect flushsurfaces positioning between flap and door outer skin, viewed from theoutside of the vehicle.

The area 404 is designed to support the housing with respect to the area29 of the door outer skin.

The areas 406 and 407 are the hinges supporting the axle located in theaxis A1.

The area 408 of the housing and the holes 409 are designed to supportthe locating and fastening of the actuator 150.

The areas 410 and 411 are side strengthening areas, and are designed towithstand the forces required to open the door after an accident, by theuse of a rescue team hook device, in order to remove vehicle occupants.

The shape of the housing must match the door outer skin shape, and mustfit in the available room taking into account the various elementsnecessary in the door.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the bottom part ofthe housing is opened so to ensure fluid draining, as water or otherfluids may enter into the housing.

The drawing FIG. 17 shows a 3D view including the flap 1, its supportingbracket 12 and the sensor 5, together with all the clips and clamps usedfor the fastening of these elements.

The locating holes 501 and 503 are designed to secure the goodpositioning of the sensor on the flap. The elastic clips 502 and 504 areused to fasten the sensor in this position.

The locating holes 505 and 507 are designed to secure the goodpositioning of the flap 1 on the bracket 12. The elastic clips 506,508and 509 are used to fasten the flap in this position on the bracket.

Another feature of the invention is to allow the location and thefastening of the user identifier authentication antenna, for examplearound the sensor.

BENEFITS OF THE INVENTION

Thanks to the invention, a completely new range of possibilities isoffered to automotive style, due to the fact that the handle can beperfectly merged, integrated and hidden within the vehicle body.

Thanks to the invention, the aerodynamic drag is smaller than withconventional handle, thus resulting in a reduction of fuel consumption.

Thanks to the invention, the inner part of the handle is protectedagainst dirt while the vehicle is submitted to adverse environmentalconditions, thus preventing the fingers of the user to get dirty, whileopening the door.

LIST OF MAIN COMPONENTS

-   1 Retractable flap (body match colored)-   2 Door outer skin-   3 User's hand-   4 Handle and flap support module-   5 Hand presence sensor-   6 Control unit-   7 Flap folding control motor-   8 Electrical opening control, electrical latch version-   9 e Door locking/unlocking latch, electrical version-   9 m Door locking/unlocking latch, mechanical version-   10 Flap traction cable-   11 a Flap return spring-   11 b Flap return spring-   12 Flap bracket for folding-   14 Fastening point for the folding traction-   15 Fastening point for the return spring-   16 Cable guidance-   17 Cable elongation when flap is pushed by hand-   18 Pulley/groove for cable winding-   19 Flap full range stop-   30 Outer face of fingers-   31 Inner face of finger tip-   40.Rocking lever for door latch control (mechanical version)-   52 Sensor detection area-   56 Sensor <-> Control unit link-   60 Control unit <-> Communication antennas link-   61 Communication antenna device-   76 Control unit <-> Folding motor link-   86 Control unit <-> Opening control link-   96 Control unit <-> Door latch link

1. An automobile door handle system, for a side door, a rear door or atrunk of the automobile, the system comprising: a retractable flapconfigured to enclose a door handle housing; a sensor configured todetect the presence of a hand or a finger when the hand or the finger isin proximity to the retractable flap, the sensor being positioned nearthe retractable flap, wherein the retractable flap retractsautomatically inside the housing when the sensor detects the presence ofthe hand or the finger.
 2. The automobile door handle system of claim 1,wherein the sensor is a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is completelyhidden behind the retractable flap.
 3. The automobile door handle systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a folding means configured toperform a manual folding action on the retractable flap, and a springreturn system configured to allow the retractable flap to return to aclosed position.
 4. The automobile door handle system according to claim1, further comprising an electrical door control having no directmechanical link to a door latch, the electrical door control configuredto operate the door latch.
 5. The automobile door handle systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising a mechanical door controlhaving a direct mechanical link from the handle to a door latch, themechanical door control configured to operate the door latch.
 6. Theautomobile door handle system according to claim 1, wherein theretractable flap matches the outer form of the automobile body when theretractable flap is in a closed position.
 7. The automobile door handlesystem according to claim 1, wherein the retractable flap is configuredto rotate along a longitudinal axis located near a bottom part of theretractable flap.
 8. The automobile door handle system according toclaim 1, wherein the retractable flap is configured to be in a closedposition when not being used to protect a handle control from theenvironment.
 9. A control process of the automobile door handle systemaccording to claim 1, the process comprising: constantly monitoring thesensor output, retracting the retractable flap to give access to thedoor opening control when the sensor indicates a presence of a finger ora hand and door unlatching authorization is present or obtained.
 10. Thecontrol process according to claim 9, the process further comprisingreturning the retractable flap to a rest position if the sensor fails todetect the presence of a hand or finger for a period of several hundredmilliseconds.